Drink Here Now: 5 Places to Sip This Week

1. The Rock Bar Opens: Fans of the Front Porch should be excited to learn that they have a new place to wait for their table (or order takeout): the Porch's owners have purchased the former International Club across the street, transforming it into the Rock Bar. Drinks include classics like the Sazerac, Vieux Carre, and Corpse Reviver #2, alongside a few originals like the Basil Mudstone (bourbon, Pineau, basil, lemon, and white tea). While the name derives from the rock-covered exterior wall of the building, the theme extends to the indoors, as both owners originally come from mining families. Don't miss the gold, spray-painted former phone booth out front. (Daily, 5 pm-2 am; 80 29th St., Bernal Heights/La Lengua.)

2. Mardi Gras at Boxing Room: As one of the city's leading lights in Cajun food, it's no surprise that Boxing Room plans to throw a Fat Tuesday party for the ages. Stop by for music from Aaron Leese and The Panhandlers, $2 Gulf oysters on the half shell, Abita Mardi Gras bock on tap, and chef Justin Simoneaux's duck and sausage jambalaya (a favorite of our Sara Deseran, and normally only available on Thursdays). For dessert, savor a slice of king cake and see if you can score the baby figurine. (Tuesday, February 21, 7-10 pm, at Boxing Room, 399 Grove St., Hayes Valley.)

4. Art Wine Recology: Thanks to the SF Recology program, over 78 percent of the city's waste is now diverted from landfills. The recycling giant is now spreading the wealth back to the community, sponsoring an Artist-in-Residence program that encourages making art out of recycled materials, and providing compost to local wineries. At this free event at 111 Minna, you can take a look at some of their artists' creations, and sample wine from a bevy of local wineries that use the contents of your green bin-- all for free. RSVP here. (Thursday, February 16, 6-9 pm, at 111 Minna Gallery, 111 Minna St., SOMA.)

5. Speakeasy Beer Week Party: Speakeasy's weekly Friday-night brewery party is going full-octane for Beer Week, with a homebrewing expo (12-3 pm), an opportunity to meet the members of the SF Brewers' Guild (3-6 pm), food from Le Truc and La Laguna, and of course, the full complement of special Beer Week drafts, for only $3 a pint. Whisky Pills Fiasco and Arann Harris and the Farm Band will provide live music to keep the party going. (Friday, February 17, 12-9 pm, at Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, 1195 Evans Ave., Bayview.)